We May Never Be Royals, But That's OK

"Royals" by Lorde is all over the radio these days.  I'm sure everyone has their own interpretation of the tune, but I believe Lorde is trying to criticize a culture that promotes the disregard of others in the pursuit of your own pleasures.  As a member of the MSBA program focused on learning business with integrity, I thought this fit well into the scope of our coursework and recent discussions.  

As Professor Widmer said in the lecture last Thursday to the MSBA Management Class, there is a distinction between the temporal pleasures in life and a staying sense of happiness that those pleasures cannot fill.  I think this song does such a great job bringing this notion into the mainstream music culture.  

Interestingly enough, it was not hearing Lorde's version on the radio for the hundredth time that made me want to write this blog.  It was hearing this cover by Mayer Hawthorne.  His version was different, and it started me thinking about why this song was different.  Not to mention Hawthorne's version is one of the coolest vibes from a song I have heard in a long time, and I wanted to share it with everyone.  Let me know what you think!   Do you like Lorde's version better?  Mayer Hawthorne's?  Do you have a different takeaway from the song?  

Do You Cheer for a Team or a Brand?

Manchester United is arguably the world's biggest professional soccer team.  Admittedly I am a little biased as I am an avid supporter, but the Red Devils (the team's nickname) have the credentials to back it up: they have won countless trophies in England's top flight and in European competition.  In addition to their on-field success, they are one of the most widely recognized brands in the world.

I thought it was interesting that when my classmates and I brainstormed brands that we recognized, we did not mention sports teams at all.  Why not? I guess it is because we don't think of teams as brands, but I would argue that they are.  Take Manchester United for example; In addition to being traded on the New York Stock Exchange, Forbes estimated that the team is worth $3 billion as of January 2013, and in 2011 Brand Finance (a consultancy) valued United's trademark and associated intellectual property at approximately $669 million.  Granted, that's a far cry from making Interbrand's Top 100 list (Gap was in last place in 2013 valued at $3,920 million) but I don't think it's anything to be laughed at either.

Think of your favorite teams.  Why do you like them?  I like United because I like the culture of the team.  They are famous for coming back late in games to win, having strong management and top class talent on the field.  I have an emotional attachment to them because they are the first soccer team I started watching.  Sound familiar to our brand moments from class?  Emotional attachment, fond memories, superior product, good culture...

Now, click here to watch a little Man United propaganda.  Even if you're not a soccer fan, skip to 3:28 for one of the best goals you will ever see in soccer.

Why should I invest in Real Estate?

Because they aren't making any more of it!  So of course the value of my home will go up! From my experience at McGrath Real Estate Services over the past year, I have found that the age old reasoning behind investing in Real Estate needs a bit of a face lift. 

McGrath Real Estate is a small full-service Real Estate Firm in Herndon, VA.  This means that the company does property management, sales, and rentals.  As the Maintenance Coordinator, I work with all three divisions of the company since they intertwine so closely.  I am responsible for improving the customer's experience by overseeing the repair process from the first request through the reception of the invoice for the completed work from the vendor.  I manage all inquiries from tenants, coworkers, vendors and clients regarding the repair process, and provide updates to all parties involved.

I get to see the good, the bad, and the ugly of the Real Estate market in Northern Virginia.  I have been a part of the process when my coworkers sell their investor clients' houses for a significant profit, and I have also seen some of our clients try to deal with owning a property while underwater on it.  I have experienced clients who are elated, apathetic, frustrated, content and irate with our service.  The biggest takeaway from my experience is that Real Estate is a living, breathing entity connected to the state of the economy and there are no certainties. So at McGrath we have to control what we can for the customer: excellent interpersonal skills, professional analytical abilities, and a superior attitude!

How I Got Here

Not many ten year olds expect to spend their fifth grade year in a Japanese public school...I know I sure didn't!  So naturally when my Dad told me that I would have my eleventh birthday in a Japanese public school, I was pretty upset.  However, I ended up loving my time in Japan and looking back on that experience I believe it gave me the ability to adapt to any situation and think on my feet.

Japanese Public School

After the year abroad, I came home and went back to middle and high school in Virginia.  I threw myself into soccer and school, and next thing I knew I was graduating high school and heading up to Cornell University to play soccer.  I was ecstatic to start this new journey, but within a month of being at college I had a knee injury that sidelined my competitive soccer career.  I had to reevaluate myself, and take a hard look at what I wanted out of my college experience.  

I had always loved music, and found that Georgetown University had a new program in American Musical Culture.  I decided that it was time to pivot and refocus my goal to music, and after my Freshman year at Cornell, I transferred to Georgetown.  

I had an incredible experience at Georgetown, and upon graduation I thought about trying to pursue a career in music.  However, as I explored the industry I realized I was equally drawn to the business side as I was to the performance side.  As a creative and curious problem solver, I knew it was time to pivot once again, so I set out to learn as much about business as I could--which is why I couldn't be happier to be part of Master's of Business Analysis Program at Catholic University!